07 March 2011

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched an online service making it quicker and easier for law students to enrol with their regulating body.

Law students will be the first of the SRA-regulated community to take advantage of the new system.

They are being encouraged to register online and apply for student enrolment and completion of the academic stage of training. Students are advised to register as soon as possible as they will not receive a reminder from the SRA about the registration process.

Today’s launch is the first step towards moving the entire SRA-regulated community to an online registration system, with all other professionals able to create their own account from July 2011. The system will also enable law students to pay their student enrolment fee securely online by credit or debit card.

Marc Baker, Director of Transformation at the SRA, said:

“We are launching a new tool designed to improve the way we communicate and engage with our community.”

“It is about reducing the amount of paper-based form-filling, saving solicitors and students time, as well as making the whole process of engaging with the regulator easier for professionals. Many other regulatory bodies in this country already have online registration systems which have proved very successful.

“This launch demonstrates that the SRA is serious about improving the standard of service we provide. We have consulted widely on the online system, taking the views of professionals and law students alike, and the feedback has been very positive.”